Difference between revisions of "Sheriff"
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| − | In the most parts of the [[United States]], the '''sheriff''' is the chief law enforcement officer of a [[county]] or [[parish]].In some states, such as [[ | + | In the most parts of the [[United States]], the '''sheriff''' is the chief law enforcement officer of a [[county]] or [[parish]].In some states, such as [[Connecticut]], the office of the Sheriff has been abolished altogether. In others, such as [[Delaware]], the Sheriff is responsible for court-ordered civil paper service and has no law enforcement authority. This, however, is currently in debate within that state on the basis of [[Common Law]] authority granted to the Sheriff. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 02:16, December 13, 2007
In the most parts of the United States, the sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of a county or parish.In some states, such as Connecticut, the office of the Sheriff has been abolished altogether. In others, such as Delaware, the Sheriff is responsible for court-ordered civil paper service and has no law enforcement authority. This, however, is currently in debate within that state on the basis of Common Law authority granted to the Sheriff.
History
The Sheriff's Office is derived from English common law. The word is derived from the Old English term "shire-reeve." A shire is an Old English form of a county and the "reeve" was its appointed administrative/legal officer. Practices have gradually diverged in the various countries that have sheriffs. The term Sheriff is used throughout much of the English-speaking world. In the US a sheriff is a chief of police, whereas in England he is an officer responsible for enforcing court orders. In Scotland, on the other hand, he is a special judge in a court of law.[1]